New public bus contract gets underway – folk asked to check timetables ahead of travelling

With Orkney’s new public bus contract to start today Monday, 16 August, folk are being reminded to check the timetables ahead of travelling due to slight alterations.

The timetables can be viewed online here www.orkney.gov.uk/Bus or are on display at the Kirkwall Travel Centre.

The Council has awarded contracts for public bus and school transport services in the county for the next eight years, with the option to extend the contract up to a maximum of a further two years.

The contracts were awarded following a full tendering process and scrutiny by Councillors at the Council’s Policy and Resources committee on 16 February and again on 18 February where the additional funding required to provide these services was also recommended.

As in previous years, the Mainland public bus services have been awarded to Stagecoach, and the award of school transport routes to several smaller operators, J&V Coaches, and Stagecoach.

School services in Eday, Stronsay and East Holm will be re-tendered as no bids were received.

Public Bus Services in Westray and Sanday will continue to be operated by existing contractors M & J Harcus and Sanday Enterprises, and the Island of Hoy Development Trust were awarded the contract to operate a one day per week public bus service on the island.

A key result of this approach is a commitment from Stagecoach to operate Mainland public bus services using 34 brand new vehicles, with all vehicles being low-floored accessible and meeting Euro 6 low emission standards. It’s expected the new vehicles will be phased in from October as vehicle manufacture lead times permit.

Chair of the Council’s Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Graham Sinclair, said: “

“The increased weighting given to quality for this contract was in recognition of the importance for the Orkney community of reliable and fully accessible public bus services.

“It will mean a brand new fleet for all public bus services run by Stagecoach - a vast improvement and one which maximises our ability to provide reliable and comfortable bus services.

“It of course means a significant budget increase to previous years, the major part of that being contract conditions around the accessibility and age of fleet - improvements which we are pleased to announce and which we are sure will be warmly welcomed by the Orkney public.

“The move to brand new Euro 6 standard low emissions vehicles for all public bus services achieved in this contract is extremely good news both in terms of quality of service and environmentally.”

The cost of School and Public Bus Services for the first full year of operation is £5,379,899, compared with an existing budget available of £3,050,760 which is a very significant increase in investment for improved services for Orkney by the Council.

Councillors approved the increased costs at the recent Full Council meeting (2 March 2021).